Mars Hill, a local Christian radio network, won’t accept paid advertising for an upcoming Christian crusade in Syracuse because a female pastor is participating.

“We can’t comfortably promote women in the role of pastor,” said Wayne Taylor, the general manager.

Mars Hill’s nine-member, all-male board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday to accept an interpretation of Scriptural passages that prohibit women from serving as church elders or pastors. That means the Syracuse-based network of four stations will not advertise or promote the two-day City Wide Crusade, which features a June 8 appearance by televangelist Pastor Paula White.

“It’s a doctrinal issue,” Taylor said. “It’s not about women preaching. It has to do with a woman taking on a pastor’s role.” Some Christians say literal interpretations of the Bible describe specific roles for men and women. “We know it’s not going to be popular,” Taylor said of the board’s decision. “The word of God is what we’re taught.”

Bishop Robert Jones, founder of Syracuse’s Apostolic Church of Christ, the church whose 1970s neighborhood revival developed into the City Wide Crusade, disagrees with Taylor’s interpretation.

“I have no problem with women pastors,” Jones said.
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Jones is the father of entertainer Grace Jones and Bishop Noel Jones, pastor of City of Refuge Church near Los Angeles.

Noel Jones and White preached at the 2004 City Wide Crusade at Syracuse’s Oncenter. White and her husband, Randy White, are co-pastors of Without Walls Church in Tampa, Fla.
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Taylor andRoberts said the Bible is clear on the issue of female pastors.

“We want to follow the Scriptures as much as we can,” Roberts said. The two cited a reference from the New Testament, an account of St. Paul’s letter to Timothy: “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

Jones countered with another Biblical reference.

“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,” he said, quoting from the New Testament Book of Acts of the Apostles.

The dueling quotes often emerge in debates about women’s role in ministry.
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